The Department for Education has announced the next wave of the rollout of government-funded solar panels for schools.

245 schools and colleges already have government-funded solar panels, and now 100 more will join the Great British Energy Solar Partnership, backed by up to £40 million from government.

A further 150 schools and colleges across Yorkshire & Humber, the East Midlands and the South East will pilot a new model, with the private sector installing and maintaining high quality panels at no upfront cost.

The pilot is expected to help every school and college be able to access private-funded solar installed from next year.

The DfE says that secondary schools who have had solar panels installed, and their lights upgraded to LED lighting, are saving £58,600 a year, and primaries £21,000.

Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson said: "Every pound a school saves on its energy bills is a pound that can be spent where it matters most – helping children achieve and thrive.

"These figures show our solar programme is already saving schools millions of pounds every year, with some secondary schools saving almost £60,000 annually.

"We’re going further – expanding this programme so hundreds more schools and colleges can cut their bills and put that money straight back into the classroom."

Under the new private sector solar pilot, private investment will be subject to quality checks and will then fund, install, own and maintain the panels, and schools will simply buy the electricity generated at a rate significantly cheaper than their normal tariff.

The pilot will inform a national rollout from 2027-28, with the ambition that every school and college in England will eventually be able to access solar.